Injury forces Nadal out of Queen's

Champion Rafa Nadal has withdrawn from next week's Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Queen's Club with a knee injury, organisers said on Friday.

The Wimbledon champion has been struggling with knee problems and been advised to rest by doctors.

"I am very disappointed to not be able to come this year to Queen's, defend the title I won last year," said Nadal, whose four-year Roland Garros reign was ended last Sunday by Robin Soderling.

"I have been having some problems in the past months with my knees, that's no secret, that did not allow me to compete always at 100 percent.

"I need to work with my team to recover well, work on my physical condition to be at my top form and get ready for the grass to play at Wimbledon."

Wimbledon starts on June 22.